Special Collection: Advanced Genetic Analysis of Invasive Arthropods
Annals of the Entomological Society of America in partnership with the National Invasive Species Council is pleased to publish a special collection of new articles on advanced genetic analysis of invasive arthropods.
The full list of papers in the collection, including a short article introducing the collection and describing its importance, is available below. All articles in the collection are freely available to read and download through March 2, 2021.
An introduction and overview of the special collection from the collection feature editors.
We propose an applied empirical framework for invasion science that channels collaborative research toward the production of tools for direct uptake in invasive species management. We illustrate the framework with example projects from the BioSAFE initiative, a highly-collaborative research effort that is creating genomic tools to enhance the identification and profiling of intercepted samples for several top-priority invasive species.
We developed a cheap, reliable, one-day species identification test to differentiate a major invasive pest (Rhagoletis pomonella) that threatens the multi-billion dollar apple industry from a harmless closely related and morphologically similar species (R. zephyria). Mistaking one for the other can trigger costly and unnecessary quarantines of large areas of apple orchards. Our method uses only 5 informative mutations identified through double digest restriction associated DNA (ddRAD) markers and is based on agarose gel electrophoresis of restriction enzyme digested polymerase chain reaction amplification products (RFLPs). This method is broadly applicable to most cryptic pests.
This study examines the role aphid microbiome may have played in limiting or facilitating host transmission by using taxon-specific PCR primers to screen for bacterial genera and metabarcoding analyses targeting bacterial regions to assess whether changes in microbiota composition may explain the sugarcane aphid outbreak in US sorghum.
This paper envisions community and stakeholder engagement for emerging technologies that address invasive insects by: 1) reviewing relevant engagement literatures; 2) suggesting engagement best practices; and 3) examining a case study involving proposed biotechnologies to address the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) invasive fruit fly.
In this study, we developed a genetic tool for tracking the spread of Amylostereum areolatum, a fungal symbiont associated with non-native Sirex noctilio in the United States. The tool may facilitate future research investigations, complement existing monitoring tools, and enable timely detection and management of non-native Sirex species across forests and regions in the United States
This paper uses high throughput DNA sequencing technology as a means to identify fruit fly maggots that were intercepted at ports of entry and is an example of how new technology can be applied to diagnose agricultural pests.
This study documents the spread and prevalence of permethrin resistant ticks in south Texas and compares the standard “Larval Packet Test” with using real-time PCR to detect permethrin resistant ticks.
In this study, we evaluated, RNAi as a potential tool for coconut rhinoceros beetle management. The results indicated RNAi should be explored as a possible management option for coconut rhinoceros beetle, and that the beetle may also represent a model species for using RNAi in the management of large invasive insect species.
A comprehensive literature review of all known Nylanderia crazy ant species that are frequently moved along human trade routes, making them high-profile targets for proactive invasive species management practices. We also discuss how genomic technology and diagnostic tools can be utilized for taxonomic preparedness for these species, as well as for other problematic taxa.
